The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-09-01
Knownothinglsm and Protection.

KnoWnothinglSm and Protection.
From the Courier journal.
1t seems we are to have another out
break of knownothingism, following the
same lines as formerly. 1t is said there is
no religious persecution designed, nor
was there formerly; but all such move
ments degenerate as they proceed, until
there is revolt in the public mind, and
the agitation and the agitators are sum
Inarily suppressed.
What is knownothingism? 1t is the
perfect flower of protection. The know
nothings would make our whole system of
| legislation accord with the avowed pur-
poses of protection.
The tariff, we are told, is imposed in or
der to protect American labor against the
competition of pauper foreign labor. As
a matter of fact, the tariff, even rs it exists
to-day, does nothing of the kind.
Labor is on the free list. A manufac-
turer cannot import his machinery with
out paying tax of 80 per cent; his i'm -
ported fuel is taxed; his raw mat erials arc
taxed, but labor comes in free of all duty.
Half a million immigrants-all laborers,
| except the very youngest children, and
they are ready for work in a few years
half million immigrants flood the labor
market every year, and make successful
strikes almost impossible.
| Here is the wrong and the injustice of
the tariff; here is an object lessofshowing
it to be a system of fraud and false pre-
| tense.
Everything laborer needs, every house
hold utensil, every article of wearing ap-
parel, every tool he uses is higher because
of the tariff, but competition in the only
article he has to sell is absolutely unre-
stricted Instead OF being protected
against the pauper labor of Europe the
laborer in America finds that the tariff
itself, by holding out false promises,
actually works as an incentive to immi-
grafton.
1t is consciousness of the real situa-
ton which misguided men hope to rem
edy that leads to the organization of a
new know-nothing party. The evils of
which they complain are real, they are
palpable; year by year they are working
to bring about an equalization of wages
between England and America.
But the remedy proposed is a part of
the same vicious system. 1t is an attem pit
to cure the bite with the hair of the dog.
One evil never cured another. Protection
does not help the laboring men; it hurts
and binders them; this remedy is "more
protection" They see the mining and
manufacturing companies accommodating
vast stores of wealth, and they are told
this prosperity is due to an import tax
on what these corporations sell; naturally
they wish TO try the same experiment Ii
an import tax on wool and woolens re-
stricts their importations and SO benefits
the American consumer, the l2borer
naturally suppOses law or tax which
restricts immigration will be a grand
thing for him. Logically he is right; he
has been deceived; he has been deluded;
he is the victim of a gigantic confidence
game, and he now insists on "fair play"
He is entitled to it.
1t is poor rule, indeed, which will not
work both ways; but this is just the trou-
BILE with the tariff-with the whole theory
of protection-it was never intended to
work both ways. 1t does not help the
farmer; it does not help the laborer; it
} was designed only to help men with cap
ital to invest and to augment their profits
at the expense of every one else.
No help will come to the workingmen
by an attempt to complete this circle of
wrong and outrage. 1t is not more, but
less, protection they need, that we all
need. Know -nothingism is contrary to
the whole spirit and purpose of our insti-
tutions. 1t will never control our govern
ment. It would furnish no adequate re.
lief.
To-day, as in 1854, the democratic party
will antagonize it and overthrow it. The
true friend of the workingmen of America
is he who will destroy the restrictions
which the tariff laws impose. Relief lies
not in imposing further restrictions, but
in more freedom of action, of motion, OF
purpose and of purchase. 1t is not less
but more freedom we need.
For these things the democratic part!
> contends in season and out. Relief, the
, only adequate relief, the only possible re-
lief for the laboring men is in a revenue
tariff, not in more projections; it will bt
obtained by the success of the democratic
f party; not by the organization of new
know nothing party.